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Merrittville Speedway has opening for scorers, announcer

Being an active participant in racing doesn’t necessarily require investing tens of thousands of dollars in buying and maintaining a stock car.

Merrittville Speedway has four positions that need to be filled before the 68th season at the Thorold track gets underway in the spring.

A co-announcer is needed as are three people to assist the head scorer with the Saturday night racing program.

A scorer will work with the head scorer and race director to ensure lineups and finishes in feature races are correct.

Duties of the transponder scorer are to oversee the computerized live timing and scoring of the program. This position also involves working closely with the head scorer and race director to ensure the accuracy of results.

Basic computer knowledge is also required for the track official responsible for signing in drivers, updating points and handicapping for starting positions.

Merrittville relies on a team of co-announcers to provide play-by-play, keep fans engaged during races and interview drivers in victory lane.

This year’s announcing team will be entirely new following the hiring of Jim Handley and the depature of Dana Curvin after eight seasons.

“We are looking for someone to share duties with him (Handley),” said Jim Irvine, the speedway’s public relations spokesman.

Experience, while preferred, is not necessarily a requirement for the announcing position. The announcing team’s goal, he said, is making the “fan experience as fun and enjoyable as possible.

Merrittville’s 67th season is fast-approaching with practice for all classes taking place Saturday, April 14, weather permitting. The Spring Sizzler, the traditional start to dirt track racing in north Niagara, goes to the green the following Saturday.

There will be a new division when racing returns in the spring. A 6-cylinder class will join 358 Modified, Sportsman, Novice Sportsman, Mod Lite, Hoosier Stock and Mini Stock in the regular lineup.

As is currently the case with Novice Sportsman, 6-cylinders will race whenever car counts and the schedule permits.

The 2018 racing schedule should be finalized some time in February, Irvine said.